Kurt Russell exposes Michelle Pfeiffer’s ‘difficulties’ with legendary director

By Page Six | Created at 2026-06-08 20:25:18 | Updated at 2026-06-08 21:57:07 1 hour ago

Kurt Russell claims Michelle Pfeiffer had on-set tension with “Tequila Sunrise” director Robert Towne.

“There were difficulties between Michelle and [Robert], in all honesty,” the actor, 75, told People at a FYC event for his and Pfeiffer’s Paramount+ series, “The Madison.”

“I was a bit of a go-between as it were,” he continued, noting that “because of that,” he and Pfeiffer, 68, “had a strong relationship.”

Kurt Russell claimed Michelle Pfeiffer (both pictured above) had “difficulties” with “Tequila Sunrise” director Robert Towne while chatting with People at “The Madison” FYC event in Los Angeles. Dave Starbuck/Future Image/INSTARimages

The actor (seen above at the FYC event) said he “was a bit of a go-between” during Pfeiffer and Towne’s alleged beef. Dave Starbuck/Future Image/INSTARimages

“We had a great time working together,” Russell added.

Page Six has reached out to Pfeiffer’s reps for comment.

The 1988 movie, written and directed by Towne, follows two childhood friends (played by Russell and Mel Gibson) who become entangled in a tense love triangle with a gorgeous restaurateur (played by Pfeiffer).

But Russell (seen above with Pfeiffer and Mel Gibson in key art for the film) said the alleged drama led to him and Pfeiffer having a “strong relationship.” ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Towne directed Russell, Pfeiffer and Gibson (all pictured above) in the 1988 romantic crime film. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Towne famously wrote 1974’s “Chinatown,” which won him the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, and its 1990 sequel, “The Two Jakes.” He died in July 2024 at the age of 89.

Russell also told People that Pfeiffer’s character in “Tequila Sunrise,” Jo Ann Vallenari, was “the glue” of everything.

“Michelle was becoming a major player, and she was a rising star and all of that,” Russell remembered. “But she was, I felt, really, really right for [the role].”

Towne (pictured above on the set of the film with Pfeiffer) died in July 2024 at the age of 89. Courtesy Everett Collection

Towne (pictured above with Mel Gibson on the “Tequila Sunrise” set) famously won an Oscar for writing “Chinatown.” ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Pfeiffer, for her part, told the outlet she “fell in love” with Russell when they first met and that he “showed up to support” her “every day.”

“It’s who he is as a person,” the “Batman Returns” star shared. “Whenever I would have a tough day or something, I’d go to Kurt, and he just kind of helped me talk it through.”

Pfeiffer previously told Variety that Russell was her “comrade-in-arms” when they were making “Tequila Sunrise.”

“He was my protector, my confidant, my court jester,” she explained in March. “He was always there to make people laugh and brings a tremendous amount of joy every day to the set. We had a really nice chemistry acting together. It was just effortless with him.”

Pfeiffer (seen above in “Tequila Sunrise”) told Variety in March that Russell was her “protector” and “confidant” on the set of the film. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Pfeiffer and Russell (seen above) are working together again in the Paramount+ series “The Madison.” JanuaryImages for Paramount+/Shutterstock

The two actors are working together again in “The Madison,” in which they play a married couple from New York City who deal with a terrible family tragedy.

“It was years and years since in between seeing each other,” Russell told People at the FYC event. “Never had the opportunity to work with each other until this.”

The Taylor Sheridan-created series, which premiered in March, has already been renewed for two more seasons.

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